NSW Koori Knockout

Last updated

NSW Koori Knockout
Sport Rugby league
Inaugural season1971
Winners & HostNewcastle All Blacks (2023)
Most titles Redfern All-Blacks (8 titles)
Broadcast partner NITV, SBS
Related competition

NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout Carnival is one of the biggest Indigenous gatherings in Australia. The first knockout was held at Camdenville Park, St Peters, on the October long weekend of 1971 with seven participating teams. The winning team gains the right to host the next knockout. Organisers created the knockout to provide further access for Indigenous players to state rugby league.

Contents

The knockout celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. [1] [2]

History

Concept [3]

The Knockout emerged from the new and growing mostly inner-city Sydney Aboriginal community in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The emerging political movement in Redfern for self-determination and justice, increased opportunities arising from post-referendum federal government initiatives and greater employment prospects in the industrial areas of Sydney influenced Aboriginal families' migration to the inner-city, particularly South Sydney. The Knockout emerged within this complex economic and social context. It was initiated by six men, and one woman, affiliated with Koorie United: Bob Smith, Bob Morgan, Bill Kennedy, Danny Rose, Victor Wright, the late George Jackson, and Barbara Flick. They formed Koorie United in response to the rapidly expanding Sydney Aboriginal community. The established Sydney-based Aboriginal sides, the Redfern All Blacks and La Perouse Panthers (or Blacks as they were sometimes called), were aligned with the South Sydney football district. There were many Aboriginal men looking for a game of football and so Koorie United formed joining the rival Newtown Jets district, with sponsorship from Marrickville Council, where some of the committee members worked.

The Koorie United committee were connected through kinship and the shared experience of relocating to the city. Bob Morgan, Danny Rose and Bill Kennedy hail from the New South Wales north-western town of Walgett in Gamilaroi country. Bob Smith and Victor Wright had relocated from Kemspey on the New South Wales north coast, and while the late George Jackson was based in Sydney, he also had connections with Gamilaroi as his wife was from Coonabarabran. Barbara Flick hails from Collarenebri.

Following a meeting at the Clifton Hotel, a well-known gathering place for Kooris in Redfern in the 1960s & 70s, the Koorie United committee proposed holding a statewide Knockout competition. Prior to this there had been many town-based knockout football and basketball competitions. However, the establishment of the Knockout set out with some different objectives. Bob Morgan says:

Our concept at the time was to also have a game where people who had difficulty breaking into the big time would be on show. They could put their skills on show and the talent scouts would come and check them out.

The Knockout was formed with a view to providing a stage for the many talented Aboriginal footballers playing at the time who had been overlooked by the talent scouts. Although there were some notable exceptions, like Bruce (La Pa) Stewart playing on the wing for Easts and field goal specialist, Eric Simms, with South Sydney, Aboriginal footballers experienced difficulty breaking into the big time. It was thought the Knockout would provide a chance for Aboriginal footballers to get noticed, where for reasons of racism and lack of country-based recruitment they were overlooked. There was also some talk of entering an all-Aboriginal side in the National Rugby League competition. But the instigation of the Knockout was intended to be far more than sporting competition, as original committee member Bob Morgan said:

The Knockout was never simply about football, it was about family, it was about community, it was getting people to come together and enjoy and celebrate things rather than win the competition football.

The first knockout

In 1971 Koorie United hosted the first knockout at Camdenville Park, St Peters, which attracted seven teams: Koorie United, Redfern All Blacks, Kempsey, La Perouse, Walgett, Moree and a combined Mt Druitt / South Coast side. It was won by La Perouse United. [4] The tournament remained at St Peters until 1975.

Venues

With Kempsey winning the Knockout in 1975, the first non-Sydney side, it was decided that the winning team would host the Knockout the following year, and the tradition began. [5]

The Kempsey Knockout was a memorial to the late Victor Wright Senior, a long-time supporter of the Knockout and of Aboriginal Football. The original winning trophy was donated by the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs. [6]

The inscription on the trophy reads, NSW Koorie Sports Committee Annual Football Knockout Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Foundation of Aboriginal Affairs. [7]

BAC Walgett became the first team to win the Knockout on three consecutive occasions. Their first win in 1988 (at Newcastle) resulted in some controversy regarding the tradition of the winner hosting the carnival, questioning the capacity of a small remote country township (population around 2200) to stage such a major event. With upwards of 6000 footballers, 50-odd teams and officials, supporters and family coming to town in 1989 for the three-day carnival, the Walgett community carried the day and went on to win it at Walgett in 1989 and again in 1990. The BAC management team chose to stage the carnival in Sydney in 1991 for its 21st anniversary.[ citation needed ]

Knockout winners

YearMen's Knockout WinnersWomen's Knockout WinnersUnder 17 Boys Knockout WinnersUnder 16 Girls Knockout Winners
TeamTeamTeamTeam
1971 La Perouse United
1972 Redfern All Blacks
1973 Redfern All Blacks
1974Koorie United
1975Kempsey All Blacks
1976Louis St Dodgers
1977West Kempsey
1978 Redfern All Blacks
1979 Redfern All Blacks
1980Narwan Eels
1981Zetland Magpies
1982Zetland Magpies
1983Dubbo Pacemakers
1984Koorie United
1985Moree Boomerangs
1986Narwan Eels
1987Newcastle All Blacks
1988BAC Walgett
1989BAC Walgett
1990BAC Walgett
1991La Perouse All Blacks
1992 Redfern All Blacks
1993 Redfern All Blacks
1994Toomelah Tigers
1995Bourke Weilmoringle
1996Nambucca Valley Rams
1997Nambucca Valley Rams
1998Wellington Wedgetails
1999Nambucca Valley Rams
2000Narwan Eels / Louis St Dodgers
2001Narwan Eels / La Perouse Panthers
2002Moree Boomerangs / La Perouse Panthers
2003Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2004Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2005Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2006Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2007Wollumbin Warriors/Newcastle All BlacksCasino
2008Narwan EelsCasino
2009BAC Walgett
2010Walgett Aboriginal Connection
2011Mindaribba Warriors
2012Newcastle Yowies [8] Mindaribba Sisters [8]
2013Newcastle YowiesNewcastle Yowies La Perouse
2014Walgett Aboriginal Connection [9] Redfern All Blacks Newcastle All Stars
2015 Redfern All Blacks Redfern All Blacks Toomelah Tigers
2016 Redfern All Blacks [10] Redfern All Blacks [10] La Perouse
2017Newcastle Yowies [11] Redfern All Blacks [11] Illawarra Titans [11]
2018Newcastle All Blacks [12] Newcastle YowiesWestern Koori Eels
2019South Coast Black Cockatoos [13] Wellington Wedgetails [13] Kempsey Sharks La Perouse
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Australia [14]
2021Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Australia [15]
2022Newcastle All Blacks [16] Dunghutti Connexions [16]
2023Walgett Aboriginal Connection [17] Wiradjuri Aboriginal RiversLa Perouse Panthers

Koori vs. Murri Interstate Challenge

The QLD Murri vs. NSW Koori Interstate Challenge is an annual rugby league game played between the Open Men's winners of the NSW Koori Knockout and Murri Rugby League Carnival.

YearKoori vs. Murri Interstate Challenge
WinnersScoreRunners-up
2012Mindaribba Warriors40–18Southern Dingoes
2013Argun Warriors28–24Newcastle Yowies
2014Newcastle Yowies18–12Southern Dingoes
2015Badu Kulpiyam30–22Walgett Aboriginal Connection
2016The Southern Dingoes26–12 Redfern All Blacks
2017 Redfern All Blacks 34–12Cherbourg Hornets
2018Newcastle Yowies38–26Dhadhin Geai Warriors

Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

Extended content

2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

The NRL launched a Festival of Indigenous Rugby League program to take the place of the prestigious pre-season Rugby League All Stars game following every World Cup year. The 2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League featured a trial match between the Newcastle Knights and an Indigenous team, drawn from the NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout and Murri Rugby League Carnival in Queensland, as well as the NRL Indigenous Player Cultural Camp, Murri vs Koori women's and Under 16s representative games, a Murri v Koori match, a jobs expo and community visits. [18]

First Nation Goannas
2014 squadCoaching staff
  •  1 Javarn White FB
  •  2 Kieran Vale WG
  •  3 Rickki Sutherland CE
  •  4 Joshua Benjamin CE
  •  5 Malcolm Congoo WG
  •  6 Kareel Phillips FE
  •  7 Adrian Davis (c)HB
  •  8 Reggie Saunders PR
  •  9 Roy Smith HK
  • 10 Matthew Pittman PR
  • 11 Noel Underwood SR
  • 12 Davin Crampton SR
  • 13 Phil Dennis LK

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


8 February 2014, 7pm (AEDT)
Newcastle Knights 52–12First Nation Goannas
Tries
Jake Mamo 3
Joseph Tapine 2
Alex McKinnon 1
Korbin Sims 1
Sione Mata'utia 1
Josh Mantellato 1
Matt Minto 1
Goals
Josh Mantellato 6/10
Tries
1 Davin Crampton
1 Rod Jensen
Goals
2/2 Adrian Davis
Hunter Stadium
Attendance: 6,826
Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris James, Jeff Younis, Dave Ryan

2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League created a strong connection between the Maori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The First Nations Goannas are chosen from the Koori Knockout and the Murri Carnival. With a strong showcase of cultural celebration from both teams. The 2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League was held at Redfern Oval featuring a Double header between the First Nation Goannas v NZ Maori and First Nation Gems v NZ Maori Ferns, And a curtain raiser game for the Koori vs Murri Interstate challenge Between Newcastle Yowies and Dhadin Geai Warriors . [19]

First Nation Goannas
2018 squadCoaching staff
  •  1 Ryan Walker FB
  •  2 Ipswich Colours.svg Michael Purcell WG
  •  3 Kieran Vale CE
  •  4 Josh Charles CE
  •  5 Greg Davis WG
  •  6 Maipele Morseu FE
  •  7 Adrian Davis HB
  •  8 Dan Tanner PR
  •  9 Wes Middleton (c)HK
  • 10 Zac Merritt PR
  • 11 Northern Pride colours.png Noel Underwood SR
  • 12 Justin Toomey-White SR
  • 13 Trent Rose LK
  • 14 Randall Briggs FE
  • 15 Bennett Leslie LK, SR
  • 16 Will Merritt PR
  • 17 Isaac Briggs PR
  • 18 Tristan Lumley SR, LK
  • 19 Ipswich Colours.svg Wes Conlon FB, HK
  • 20 Shane Nolan-Carr HB, HK

Head coach

Assistant coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 10 February 2018
Source(s): Festival of Indigenous Rugby League Squads

10 February 2018
First Nation Goannas22–16New Zealand Maori
Tries
Ryan Walker 1
Michael Purcell 1
Dan Tanner 1
Kieran Vale 1
Goals
Adrian Davis 3/4
Tries
1 Ozzy Tuwhangai
1 Carne Doyle-Manga
1 Jayden Horo
Goals
Manaia Rudolph 2/3
First Nation Gems
2018 squadCoaching staff
  •  1 Kazzia Lemmon FB
  •  2 Tanika Marshall WG
  •  3 Amber Piley CE
  •  4 Taleenna Simon CE
  •  5 Paris Robinson WG
  •  6 Sarah Field FE
  •  7 Sharon McGrady HB
  •  8 Rhianna Sutherland PR
  •  9 Kiara Maza HK
  • 10 Layla Fauid PR
  • 11 Samartha Leisha (c)SR
  • 12 Stephanie Mooka SR
  • 13 Carly Phillips LK
  • 14 Ashleigh Sowter
  • 15 Shakia Tungai
  • 16 Rikki Lane
  • 17 Kyara Nean
  • 18 Candice Clay
  • 19 Chloe Caldwell

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 10 February 2018
Source(s): Festival of Indigenous Rugby League Squads

10 February 2018
First Nation Gems18–0New Zealand Maori Ferns
Tries
Samartha Leisha 1
Taleena Simon 2
Goals
Sarah field 3/3

Championships By Team

Open Men's

TeamsWinsYears
Redfern All Blacks 81972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 1993, 2015, 2016
BAC / WAC Walgett71988, 1989, 1990, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2023
Narwan Eels51980, 1986, 2000, 2001, 2008
Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial42003, 2004, 2005, 2006
La Perouse Panthers 31971, 2001, 2002
Nambucca Valley Rams31996, 1997, 1999
Newcastle Yowies32012, 2013, 2017
Zetland Magpies21981, 1982
Koorie United21974, 1984
Louis St Dodgers21976, 2000
Moree Boomerangs21985, 2002
Newcastle All Blacks22007, 2018
Dubbo Pacemakers11983
Toomelah Tigers11994
Wellington Wedgetails11998
Bourke Weilmoringle11995
Kempsey All Blacks11975
West Kempsey11977
Mindaribba Warriors12011
Wollumbin Warriors12007
La Perouse All Blacks11991
South Coast Black Cockatoos12019

Open Women's

TeamsWinsYears
Redfern All Blacks 42014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Newcastle Yowies32013, 2018, 2023
Casino22007, 2008
Dunghutti Connexions12022
Mindaribba Sisters12012
Wellington Wedgetails12019

Under 17 Boys

TeamsWinsYears
La Perouse 32013, 2016, 2023
Newcastle All Stars12014
Illawarra Titans12017
Toomelah Tigers12015
Western Koori Eels12018
Kempsey Sharks12019

Under 16 Girls

TeamsWinsYears
La Perouse 12019

Trophies

Throughout the history of the Knockout there have been many trophies added. Many of the trophies are memorials. Some of these trophies are dedicated to those who have made a significant contribution to the Knockout and Aboriginal football. These include the William Peachey Memorial Trophy – donated by the Peache family; the Lance Brown Memorial Trophy presented to Bourke/Weilmoringle RLFC, Gary "Mad Mick" Kennedy; McGrady Memorial Shield; Tommo Tighe Memorial Shield; Tabulam Rugby League Football Club Paul Roberts Memorial Shield; Wesley McGrady Memorial Trophy; Vincent Clyde Donovan Memorial Trophy – donated by the South Taree Footballers for the best 5/8 of State Knockout; and the George "Pedro" Squires Perpetual Trophy – donated by the Greenup Family Bowraville. [20]

NRL players to play in Koori Knockout

See also

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